Late to the party: Why my summer is delayed

My summer always feels delayed. We have a week’s reprieve between school ending and the Stampede, but you can’t really count Stampede as being part of summer. It’s an entire season in itself. Every year I’m off on a work trip the week after Stampede, so my summer doesn’t seem like it officially begins until the end of July.

And now, just back from Costa Rica, I feel it. It sounds like ice tinkling in a chilled glass. It tastes like strawberry juice muddled with freshly whipped cream (that you just may have licked off your plate when no one was looking). It smells like freshly mown grass, coconut suntan lotion and pine resin that wafts through the air in the heat of the afternoon.

Every year I like to make my summer bucket list, and this year is no exception. Except I haven’t really thought about it too much. The last two years have been bananas with my book. This year, I want to straight up chill. As much as a hyper, Type-A gal like me can, of course. Here’s what’s on my roster for the six weeks of summer I have left.

Chill on a ferry

After reading this article on how to completely relax, I’ve decided I need to take a ferry trip. And do nothing on that ferry. No catching up on emails. No shuffling through Instagram. Just me, the water and ideally, an artisanal B.C. cider. Okay, okay, my family can tag along, too. I have no idea how or when I’m going to make this happen. Just throwing it out there.

I spent a blissful afternoon at the Fairmont Pacific Rim outdoor pool. It’s open all year round!

Plunge into so many outdoor pools

I’m pretty sure I make this pledge every summer. I am obsessed with outdoor pools. Luckily, I was able to give some love to the one at Fairmont Pacific Rim at the end of June. That was a good start, but I fear it’ll be hard to keep up the posh pool momentum. Only time will tell…

Spot some grizzlies and moose!

I’ve wanted to take the gondola in summer at Lake Louise Ski Resort for years now. By doing so, you just might see a few grizzlies down below. How cool would that be? Afterwards, I’m keen to soak up some sun on the Whitehorn Bistro patio. If you’ve never eaten here, you really should. It’s one of the best restos in the Alberta Rockies.

Moose love hanging around Moose Mount Engadine Lodge in summer

Another bucket list item is to go back to Mount Engadine Lodge, but in summer. It’s a back country lodge outside of Canmore, but you can drive right up to it. It serves up the best meals ever and I’m particularly partial to the cakes they lay out at teatime. I’m told that at this time of year, moose like to munch on the grass beneath their massive patio. I’ve booked Eve and I in for an overnight at the end of July.

Take a quick couple’s trip

Last year The Huz and I wised up and took advantage of Eve being away at sleep away camp. We hit Seattle and while it was good, it wasn’t exactly mind blowing. I want mind blowing. I want a funky city hotel with a sexy outdoor pool and excellent shopping. I want this to magically happen without having to do any research or book flights. I fully concede this is unlikely to happen.

The gals who run Motoburrito are so much fun

Hit some cool small Alberta towns

I’m besotted with Black Diamond and Turner Valley. My girlfriends and I went for dinner at Motoburrito (cool taco truck on an acreage) at the end of June and it was way charming. Turner Valley has this sweet little outdoor pool I want to hit, and I’ve never been to the Chuckwagon Cafe. After downing what I expect to be an awesome burger, I’m going next door to Eau Claire Distillery. No, I’m not doing a distillery tour (god, I hate those!) but afternoon tea. Correction: G and Tea. Get it? Every Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon in summer they offer afternoon tea and serve it with a teapot filled with some sort of gin cocktail. Who wants to join me and drive me home?

Veg out

I don’t mean in the vapid sense, but in the I really need to eat more greens kinda way. I feel so gross, heavy and generally blah. I was so diligent with my workouts before summer hit, but now I have zero routine. I want to step up the veg rotation in our house and eat lighter when dining out. I checked out Coup’s vegetarian brunch menu and it looks fantastic. After a disappointing full on animal protein brunch at Cleaver (and I usually love that place) I’m going to the lighter side.

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I’m a freelance writer with bad hair, a loud mouth and a serious case of wanderlust. Whether it’s luggage, time or just life, I cram as much as possible into small compartments. Warning: Contents may shift during flight. My life is one bumpy ride! Follow me on Twitter or Pinterest.